Alfred Lado

06/09/2024

We thank God for release of Moulana Kalisto Lado the former Mayor of Juba City Council today Sept, 6th, who got abducted on March 30th, 2024 by the SS National Security Service.

He looks very exhausted, therfore, he needs urgent and proper medical attention outside the country immediately.

24/08/2024

Breaking News!!

One of the SPLM/A veterans Gen. Garang Mobil went berserk on fellow splm senior colleagues during the funeral rite prayer for the soul of late Gen. Bior Ajang aka Bior Aswoud on Saturday 24th Aug, 2024 in Juba.

He outrightly denounced that splm no longer exists, what's there is something else. The original one is dead, he emphasised. He further stressed that splm has been infiltrated and become a mixture or cocktail of something that isn't known or literally hijacked by unknown people who sarcastically elbowed them out in the name of education qualification "certificates".

The aggressive veteran sternly warned Kuol Manyang, Wani Igga, Awet Akot and others by demanding for an urgent meeting of the splm party to settle such confusion; stating that the situation remains intolerable and they aren't going to continue watching it unfold anymore as usual while others are busy eating.

According to him late Amb. Bior Aswoud should have been made the chairman of splm as he deserved it by all standards being skillful and competent enough to navigate the organisation/country well. He's literally regretting the current state of affairs within the splm or its leadership in the person of President Salva Kiir.

He made it apparently clear that the veterans have been badly neglected citing circumstances surrounding the demise of late Gen. Bior Aswoud and many many others.

In that strongly worded speech by the General, the church also got its own fair share.

11/08/2024

Breaking News:

The vice President (VP) of the Republic of South Sudan for economic cluster Dr. James Wani Igga expressly admitted that he and his government kidnapped the former Mayor of Juba City Council (JCC) Moulana Kalisto Lado Faustino Nyigillo Wani from his house using different cars not necessarily black ones as alleged earlier on by the eyewitnesses.

This admission came yesterday on August 10th, 2024 during the thanksgiving prayer to Gen. Alfred Lodu Gore, the former national minister of housing and urban planing in the transitional government of national unity who returned to the country from abroad after undergoing some medications.

It's worth mentioning that, the former Mayor of JCC was kidnapped on March 31st, 2024 by unknown individuals who drove in numberless black vehicles at around 11:45PM on his arrival at his gate trying to enter his home at Kuwait residential area opposite midan rainbow.

Following this ordeal, multiple local and international media houses reached out to the office of the VP Wani Igga on numerous occasions, but he absolutely denied verbatim any knowledge of Kalisto's arrest or kidnapping not only in the media alone but also to his Community (BC) in Juba and across the world. After his blatant denial, knowingly that the former Mayor worked in his office at one point, an act which raised eyebrows of the world. As a result, multiple embassies, civil society organisations, faith based organisations, concerned individuals at R-TNLA, rights activists and many others across the world showed concerns by issuing condemnation letters and demanding immediate release or arraignment of Lado to the competent court of law in case of committing any offence.

In his speech yesterday, the VP further alleged that the former Mayor Lado committed certain crimes that he didn't specify but insinuated that it took him and other splm leaders two hours long watching on TV. According to him, Kalisto will be produced in the court of law soon without saying exactly when that will be.

Everybody, if not the whole world knows that former Mayor Kalisto Lado was very vocal on the issue of rampant land grabbing of his community and that of other vulnerable South Sudanese oftentimes orchestrated by some senior government officials in which VP Igga serves.

It's to be noted too that the family of Kalisto especially his wife and kids didn't hear or know the whereabouts of their loved one since 31/03/2024 to date. Nobody knows about his health condition till now.

03/07/2024

This is the worst bill ever passed by the so-called parliamentarians today. The negative impact is enormous on innocent South Sudanese the same like late John Luk's constitution.

The downtrodden people will mainly be its victims not forgetting some MPs who passed it thinking that it will favour them. How can the members of parliament pass the bill that gives excessive powers to the national security to arrest and detain without warrant of arrest given all what we have seen?

South Sudanese have enough reasons to rise up strongly against it so that it isn't assented into law by the President.

08/06/2024

President Kiir"s delegates found themselves between the cliff and whirlpool because of too much pressure from People's Coalition for Civil Actions - South Sudan (PCCA- SS), despite hardly squeezing the armed opposition groups participating in the Tumaini Initiative in Nairobi to the wall in a diplomatic manner to say the least. That isn't a surprise at all to the general public in South Sudan due to the fact that some of the so called armed opposition groups have all along been funded by J1 (Presidency) such as SSUF of Gen. Paul Malong and NAS - RCC under Mr. Mario Loku & Mr Stephen Lukaja, among others. For that reason, it's worth mentioning that the leadership of RCC was dismissed by NAS mainstream under Gen. Thomas Cirillo Swaka long time ago on January 25th, 2024, for two major reasons, namely,

a) establishing communication with some individuals at J1 without authorisation from NAS leadership,

b) disappearance from the line of duty for three good years but only to be found in refugee camp in Uganda. In short, this group of RCC was manufactured by some individuals at J1 and their cohorts simply to appear in the name of NAS in that peace negotiation.

It's unfortunate that most if not all of the armed groups participating in Tumaini Initiative turned out to be afraid or incapacitated for some reasons to brief or make strong public statements on behalf of the downtrodden people of South Sudan to know whether things are progressing well or they are under a clandestine confinement like what happened in Khartoum in 2018; it's yet to be determined, much as Gen. Stephen Buay, one time, raised a similar alarm, but he seems to have been silenced.

In addition to the above, some voices are coming out that in reality, they (armed oppositions) are observably under strict situation by the security to remain in Kenya under the pretext of house keeping rules even though government and other delegates can easily travel and come back to the table as they wish. It's an indication of something fishy with the opposition participants. In light of that, none of them can ever leave Kenya soon unless they strike a much needed deal by Juba at the very least in order to extend President Kiir's stay in power now that the supposedly said Dec 2024 general elections aren't anymore feasible. Knowingly that President Kiir's tenure of office will expire in December this year, according to R-ARCSS and its extended road map. Therefore, Juba regime is desperate to bash any kind of a deal to give Kiir another legitimacy by all means. Otherwise, another war is eminent in order to buy more time. It's high time for the opposition participating in the Tumaini Initiative not only to think of positions in Juba but the interest of the general public. The public is yet to hear clarification on that matter, much as there's already a formed public opinion about oppositions' participation in that initiative unless they begin to do things differently.

After three weeks or so, the PCCA emerged now as the body capable of telling the truth in the face of Kiir's delegates and mediators as some of their representatives confidently said it in various South Sudanese WhatsApp groups. So far, they have demanded not only for Kiir and Machar to step down now but also to freeze out the national security service unit and merging of tiger division to the mother unit sspdf and so on. Those demands vividly reflect some real calls of the people of South Sudan, albeit there are still more.

In conclusion, it's advisable to listen to the launching speeches of this initiative, especially that of the Chief Negotiator Lt. Gen. Lazaro Sumbeiywo, President Ruto and President Kiir while also taking in consideration the declaration of a commitment signed by the parties on May 16th, 2024 which will remain as guiding principles to the whole process from the beginning to the end.

It's apparent that some armed groups will likely be compelled in one way or the other to sign any kind of a document that can be produced even though they have been given that 72 page- document to review. There's already a discrepancy, though it went unnoticed. Yesterday, one of the opposition figures said that they were presented a 72 page-document, while the government spokesperson stated that they have been given a 75 page-document. This alone is a problem because the difference of three pages sounds volumes, leave alone the context therein.

28/05/2024

As the campaign trail of the two highly contesting groups of Advocates Alliance and Reform and prosperity for the South Sudan Bar Association (SSBA) Office is about to end today, while expecting a bigger day of general elections tomorrow 29th of May, 2024, I remain optimistic that the process will go down well in the history of the SSBA in particular and South Sudan in general.

You guys have done a wonderful job over the last few weeks. Keep the momentum and let it end in a very professional manner. So many people are eagerly following this process from within and abroad.

I kindly advise my two learned colleagues Adv. Reech Ring and Adv. Arop Malueth as principals of the two groups to work hard to lower down the tone of their supporters for the success of this important exercise and for the purpose of demonstrating professionalism.

Congratulations in advance to any group that will win from either side. I will keep my neutrality because both of you are competing to achieve the same goal.

Best wishes to all.

11/05/2024

Submission of the so called holdout groups to President Kiir is real.

President Ruto of Kenya did what was needed of him successfully well even if before signing the peace deal yet.

Unfortunately, the rest of the oppositions involved in the process didn't feature anywhere in that show except Real SPLM and SSUF/M. That means the rest were only lured therein for formality purposes.

This is for your acknowledgement.

Stay tuned !!

10/05/2024

Breaking News !!

The opposition leaders mainly Real Splm of Pagan Amum, SSUF/M of Paul Malong and others have wholly submitted to President Kiir without a precondition.

What's happening in Nairobi - Kenya is just a formalisation exercise but in reality a dirty deal was reached ever since behind the curtain for their personal interest, not for the interest of the people of South Sudan.

You can see how the leaders of opposition are submissive to President Kiir without any sort of official agreement reached yet.

The peace process is clearly fake. Join it at your own peril !!

03/05/2024

● Kiir and Splm fought for 21 years.

● Kiir/ splm rules for 19 years and still ruling. (Period characterised by high level of corruption/looting, mismanagement of public resources, killing, intimidation, forceful displacement, unknown gunmen activities, r**e, land grabbing, high level of tribalism, compromising Judiciary and Parliament name it.... )

● Kiir/splm mortgaged the country for more than 20 years since oil is the main source of income now.

● Kiir/splm has taken the citizens hostage. Hence, they will be forced to vote for the splm comes election time whether they like it or not.

● Just trying to think outside the box. Assuming that the SPLM/A won the liberation war 100% militarily without a referendum exercise done for secession of South Sudan. In the absence of Dr. John Garang, a scenario of dividing the country amongst themselves or selling the entire South Sudan would have been possible.

A good leader secures a prosperous future for upcoming generations but a bad one mortgages it without remorse. This is an undeniable fact with splm's administration of the country today.

The future of South Sudan is doom as this young man made it clear in the attached video clip.

23/04/2024

Date: 23rd April, 2024

South Sudan Bar Association's General Elections 2024.

The South Sudan Bar Association is set to go for general elections soon. I have been keenly following the electoral preparedness and the high temperature involved in the process which is overwhelmed by two different competing groups "Reform & Prosperity" headed by my learned Colleague Counsel Reech Ring from one hand and "Advocates Alliance" headed by my learned colleague Counsel Arop Malueth from the other.

To me, it appears like the attempt this time round will likely bear fruits contrary to numerous failed attempts starting from the Lawyers' Foundation Conference conducted in 2014 which was purposely interrupted by the South Sudan National Security Services who stormed the venue of the elections and forcefully made away with ballot boxes as the voters were left in total despair while the voting process was
about to end in the presence of senior government officials, diplomatic corps, regional observers and other relevant legal institutions in the country and many others. Let me hope that this one won't be interrupted again. Nevertheless, am optimistic that it will go smoothly.

To all the contesting learned colleagues in these two groups, please, do it diligently well regardless of who wins or loses because you have a lot to demonstrate to the people of South Sudan in terms of democracy and rule of law. Make it a free, fair and credible election to reflect the essence of legal profession in the country.

It's vital to have this body democratically formed now than later given what the legal profession is going through across the country nowadays.

Once legally formed, the Bar Association will undoubtedly increase public understanding of/ or respect for the rule of law, the legal process, and the role of the legal profession in the country. Hold government accountable under law, work for just laws, including human rights, and a fair legal process and assure meaningful representation for all persons from all works of life in the country.

Advancing Access to Justice

Access to justice is a fundamental principle of any thriving democracy like ours. The current tribal and political climate has brought to light various social and legal issues that disproportionately affect marginalized or weaker persons in South Sudan. Bar association has rights by law to actively respond thereto by working to bridge the gap in access to legal representation or justice.

Legal aid.

Legal aid is the provision of assistance to people who are unable to afford legal representation and access to the court system. Legal aid is regarded as central in providing access to justice by ensuring equality before the law, the right to counsel and the right to a fair trial.

Encouraging Civility and Respect

Political and ethnic polarization oftentimes lead to contentious debates and strained relationships. The Bar Association industry is well placed to actively promote civility and respect among legal professionals, even when representing opposing views much as it remains a challenge in our situation. Legal professionals are encouraged to maintain professionalism and uphold the principles of respectful discourse, essential for a functioning rule of law and upholding democracy.

Holding Events:

Bar association oftentimes organizes seminars, workshops, and training programs to equip lawyers with the tools needed to engage in such constructive dialogue, resolve disputes, and maintain civility in a politically and tribally charged atmosphere like in our country.

Promoting Diversity and Inclusivity

Diversity within the legal profession is a critical matter of responding to the current tribal and political climate in South Sudan. Bar association should actively work to promote diversity and inclusivity within its rank and the broader legal community. "I can guess that most learned colleagues may simply downplay or disagree with me on this point for repeatedly mentioning "tribal and political" situation in this piece, however, that's an undisputed fact in our country, so, we need to take it with a pinch of salt and boldly address it as legal professionals.

Promoting Ethical Standards

One of the primary responsibilities of bar association is to uphold the ethical standards of the legal profession. In times of political and tribal polarization, maintaining these standards becomes even more critical. Bar association should work diligently well to ensure that lawyers adhere to their ethical obligations, irrespective of political or tribal pressures. This includes addressing issues such as lawyer's misconduct, conflicts of interest, and protecting lawyer-client privilege. By maintaining strict ethical standards, bar association will not only play a pivotal role in preserving the integrity of the legal profession amidst political tensions but also promoting the rule of law, access to justice and democracy in the country.

Finally, am so much optimistic with the efforts made by all my learned colleagues across the divide and can't wait to see the final results of a free, fair and credible election of South Sudan Bar Association 2024.

Wishing all of you the very best of luck.

Best Wishes,
Alfred Lado

The writer has been a practising lawyer, currently a rights activist and can be reached at: [email protected]

22/04/2024